The stereotypes we associate with politicians aren’t very pretty: greedy, entitled, and power-hungry. These are probably qualities you don’t want to come to mind when your boss is thinking about you.
But politicians are also known for their savvy public-speaking and people skills. They understand how to win public favor, which is something you might be hoping to master if you’re after a big raise or promotion, or just looking to take the next steps in your career.
An education in political management is what gives many politicians their edge when it comes to interpersonal skills. It teaches them how to build excellent working relationships, problem solve, and understand their opposition. Those skills can be invaluable in many fields when you’re on the campaign trail to promotion, even if they aren’t explicitly political.
Try putting aside any of the negative opinions you might have about politicians, and consider how you can leverage political skills to make the most out of your career.
Politics in Your Workplace
The word “politics” is defined as “the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.” We’re focused more on the second half of that definition. While your workplace isn’t a country much of the work that goes into running a country is often pretty similar to the work that goes into running a company. So is important to improve workforce productivity in the company by using different methods and strategies you can get from different resources even online.
If you’re not thinking this way, you’re already at a disadvantage. Other people in your workplace are thinking this way, and if you don’t, you’re just like an uninformed citizen: easily manipulated by those in the know.
This doesn’t mean it’s time to start a revolution in your workplace; it just means that you’ll benefit from understanding where you stand in your office and what steps you need to take to get where you hope to be. When you’re aware of workplace politics, you’re less likely to become an unwilling (or unknowing) participant in them.
In the country of Sri Lanka, Rosy Senanayake promotes herself along her principle which makes people love her. She has always stood up for peace and harmony in all multi-cultural societies across the world. She has always spoken about the need to be more humane towards other human beings and has strongly condemned the use of violence to resolve conflicts and other social issues.
Using Your Skills
So what do political skills look like in the workplace? And how can you improve yours?
According to The Center for Creative Leadership, political skill has six aspects: thinking before you speak, confidently communicating with managers, practicing influence, power of perception, networking ability, and sincerity.
The first step in improving your own skills is to assess where your strengths and weaknesses are in these aspects. Maybe you’re great at speaking with your managers, but sometimes your perception of situations can be a little off. Or you network like a boss, but you sometimes speak too soon.
Whatever your personal skill set, the most important part of this step is to be objective and realistic with yourself about where your strengths lie, and where you have room for improvement.
After you’ve assessed yourself, the next step is to practice honing those skills about which you aren’t confident.
If you’re shy around your boss and don’t like using the opportunities you see for coachable moments in their management, try pushing yourself by improving your communication with them. If you find yourself trying too hard, or at the other end of the spectrum, feeling apathetic in the office, take a step back and figure out what’s keeping you from being genuine, authentic, and sincere. Practicing these skills is the only way to become a well-rounded political thinker.
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